Danishmend Gazi ( fa, دانشمند غازی), Danishmend Taylu, or Dānishmand Aḥmad Ghāzī (died 1085), was the
Turkmen general of the
Seljuks
The Seljuk dynasty, or Seljukids ( ; fa, سلجوقیان ''Saljuqian'', alternatively spelled as Seljuqs or Saljuqs), also known as Seljuk Turks, Seljuk Turkomans "The defeat in August 1071 of the Byzantine emperor Romanos Diogenes
by the Turk ...
and later founder of the
beylik of
Danishmends
The Danishmendids or Danishmends ( fa, دودمان دانشمند; tr, Dânişmendliler) was a Turkish beylik that ruled in north-central and eastern Anatolia from 1071/1075 to 1178. The dynasty centered originally around Sivas, Tokat, and N ...
.
After the
Turkic advance into
Anatolia
Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The ...
that followed the
Battle of Manzikert, his dynasty controlled the north-central regions in Anatolia.
Life
The defeat of the
Byzantine army at the
Battle of Manzikert allowed the Turks, including forces loyal to Danishmend Gazi, to occupy nearly all of
Anatolia
Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The ...
. Danishmend Gazi and his forces took as their lands central Anatolia, conquering the cities of
Neocaesarea
Niksar, historically known as Neocaesarea (Νεοκαισάρεια), is a city in Tokat Province, Turkey. It was settled by many empires, being once the capital city of the province. Niksar is known as "Çukurova of the North-Anatolia" due to it ...
,
Tokat,
Sivas
Sivas (Latin and Greek: ''Sebastia'', ''Sebastea'', Σεβάστεια, Σεβαστή, ) is a city in central Turkey and the seat of Sivas Province.
The city, which lies at an elevation of in the broad valley of the Kızılırmak river, is ...
, and
Euchaita
Euchaita () was a Byzantine city and diocese in Helenopontus, the Armeniac Theme (northern Asia Minor), and an important stop on the Ancyra- Amasea Roman road.
In Ottoman times, Euchaita was mostly depopulated, but there was a remnant village known ...
.
According to
Michael the Syrian, he ruled
Cappadocia in 1085, and most likely died the same year. He was succeeded by his son
Gazi Gümüshtigin.
Legend
Danishmend Gazi is the central figure in the ''Danishmendnâme'' ("Tale of Danishmend"), a 13th-century
Turkish-language epic
romance
Romance (from Vulgar Latin , "in the Roman language", i.e., "Latin") may refer to:
Common meanings
* Romance (love), emotional attraction towards another person and the courtship behaviors undertaken to express the feelings
* Romance languages, ...
. In this allegory, events from the life of Danishmend Gazi are blended with the legendary exploits of the 8th-century
Arab warrior
Sayyid Battal Gazi and of the Persian hero
Abu Muslim of the early
Abbasid period.
The legends that comprise ''Danishmendnâme'' were compiled from Turkish
oral tradition for the first time by order of the
Seljuk Sultan
Kayqubad I, a century after Danishmend's death. The final form that reached our day is a
compendium that was put together under the instructions of the early 15th century
Ottoman sultan
Murad II
Murad II ( ota, مراد ثانى, Murād-ı sānī, tr, II. Murad, 16 June 1404 – 3 February 1451) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1421 to 1444 and again from 1446 to 1451.
Murad II's reign was a period of important economic deve ...
.
Name
There is also some confusion on his name and divergence among names used by scholars. He had the same name as his son,
Gümüştekin. The father is often referred to shortly as Danishmend Gazi, while his son is called Gazi Gümüştekin. Furthermore, the Danishmend dynasty is also cited as having a family tie to the
Seljuk dynasty. He was the maternal uncle to the
Seljuk ruler Suleiman ibn Qutulmish
Suleiman Shah I ibn Qutalmish (; 1ca, سُلَیمانشاہ بن قُتَلمِش; fa, سلیمان بن قتلمش) founded an independent Seljuk Turkish state in Anatolia and ruled as Seljuk Sultan of Rûm from 1077 until his death in 10 ...
.
Notes
References
(limited preview)
*Irene Melikoff (1960): ''Danishmendname'' ''La Geste de Melik Danishmend'', translation and introduction to a Turkish
epic of the 13th century
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Danishmend Gazi
1084 deaths
Muslims of the First Crusade
Turkic rulers
History of Tokat
Year of birth unknown
11th-century rulers in Asia
12th-century rulers in Asia
11th-century Turkic people
Danishmend dynasty
Founding monarchs